Novels by Richard Brawer

Author Interview with Ariel Hammond and Jason Sorren

Author pledge: Ariel Hammond’s and Jason Sorren’s chilling story about how they exposed arms smugglers has altered their lives forever. I promised them I would write it exactly as they tell it to me without embellishment. The following are my first interviews:

My initial interview with Ariel

Author: I’d like to start from the beginning. When did you meet Jason Sorren?

Ariel: At a seminar for attorneys.

Author: Did he tell you he worked for Rathborn United Industries?

Ariel: Yes, when we introduced ourselves.

Author: When you learned he worked for a weapons manufacturer, didn’t that upset you, you being a Quaker?

Ariel: I do not judge people that way.

Author: Of course, but I find it unusual that as a pacifist you would become involved with someone in the armaments business. Why is that?”

Ariel: He seemed nice.

Author: By that you mean charming?

Ariel: Yes. I guess you could say I was seduced… not that way, by his sophistication. Until I moved to New York I led a sheltered life on the farm. He took me to Broadway shows and museums, places I always wanted to go but never had the chance.

Author: After you were caught up in the kidnappings and killings as a result of your association with Mr. Sorren, what did you think of him then?

Ariel: I don’t really know. Certainly part of me wished I had never met him.

Author: Why was that?

Ariel: I was thinking about all the convictions I had made in my life, everything my parents taught me since I was old enough to understand, and in the few short weeks I had known Jason, I disavowed them all.

Author: And you felt that was his fault?

Ariel: Not entirely.

Author: Why not entirely?

Ariel: I thought I loved him and as a result I made some poor choices. May we take a break?

Author: Certainly. Would you like a glass of water?

Ariel: Yes, please.

My initial interview with Jason

Author: You met Ariel at a seminar?

Jason: Yes

Author: What attracted you to her?

Jason: What do you think? She’s gorgeous. I was surprised I was the only one that wanted to meet her.

Author: When did you learn Ariel was a Quaker?

Jason: On our first date. Her reaction at the seminar when I told her I worked for Rathborn United nagged at me. We had a delightful dinner so over coffee I asked her if she had a problem with Rathborn United. That’s when she told me.

Author: After she told you were you afraid she would not want to see you again?

Jason: Yes. But she accepted another date.

Author: That was the beginning of your relationship?

Jason: Yes.

Author: What was your relationship like?

Jason: What do you mean?

Author: Did it get intimate?

Jason: We did not have sex if that’s what you mean.

Author: You told me you had a number of casual relationships before you met Ariel. What kept you attracted to her and not the others?

Jason: She was certainly not the type of woman I was used to dating. My previous relationships freely jumped in bed using sex to keep me interested. I was more than willing to play. But none were someone I’d want to spend my life with and when they hinted at moving in together I ended the relationship.

With Ariel it was different. She never expressed to want anything from me, especially not sex. Yet, for some unexplained reason I was still drawn to her. She danced in my thoughts every minute I was away from her.

Author: You were in love?

Jason: I thought so.

Author: What did Ariel think?

Jason: I wasn’t sure.

Author: Why not?

Jason: Because she never told me.

Author: Let’s move on. When did you tell Ariel about your family?

Jason: When we were locked in the basement of Trafante’s house.

Author: Why didn’t you tell her earlier in your relationship?

Jason: I was afraid she wouldn’t want to see me again.

Author: When you did tell her, how did she react?

Jason: Not good. She said my family went against everything she believed. I tried to tell her I wasn’t part of my father’s or uncle’s business, but she didn’t believe me.